The Gamba Declaration

The Gamba Declaration

An open letter from scientists, calling for a ban on Gamba Grass across Northern Australia

Later this month Dr Rachel McFadyen, CEO of the Australian Weeds CRC, together with another scientist, will be launching an open letter from scientists calling on the Queensland and Northern Territory governments to ban the planting and sale of gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus Kunth.), and implement control strategies. At present, gamba grass is still being legally sold and planted in Queensland and the Northern Territory.

If you are a scientist who believes (based either on your own work or the scientific literature) that gamba grass is a dangerous weed and you support it being declared please consider adding your name to the signatories on the open letter. The letter has been reviewed and supported by prominent ecologists and weed scientists.

The open letter summarises the extremely high environmental risks of gamba grass infestation - including high invasiveness, high-intensity fires, loss of trees, nutrient depletion, threats to listed species, and so on - and provides referenced supporting information. Western Australia has recently banned gamba grass, but Queensland and Northern Territory have not, despite weed risk assessments rating gamba as a very high risk weed.

Please also distribute this link to colleagues. The more signatories, the greater the potential impact. There is already significant media interest.

If you would like to add your support please send an email to gamba.declaration@gmail.com, saying that you would like to be a signatory. Please specify your name and title. You can, but do not have to, declare an affiliation.

Download Gamba Declaration (264k Acrobat (pdf) file)

Any problems with downloading the pdf file - email us.